Song Wuli picked up Diamond, rubbing it against her face, taking a few deep sniffs.
Diamond was way cuter than the Contract Goddess, who wasn’t cute at all.
Diamond coughed from the squeeze, splattering blood on Song Wuli.
“Silver, isn’t this an intimate act among humans? Don’t you hate me for making you sign the contract?”
“It’s not necessarily intimate; I just like doing it.”
“Silver, I don’t get it—isn’t that the same thing?”
Song Wuli didn’t explain further.
She flew up, carrying Diamond home.
On the way, Diamond couldn’t help asking, “Silver, did you solve your problem?”
It knew, since Song Wuli was still a magical girl, the issue wasn’t resolved.
Song Wuli replied, “Not yet; I deliberately took a stalling tactic.”
She flew leisurely through the sky, slow enough to enjoy the night breeze.
Diamond smoothed its fur with its paw and asked, “I’ve heard of human stalling tactics, but I don’t understand what you mean.”
Song Wuli explained parts of what happened, specifically the contract part.
Diamond thought for a long time before getting it.
It asked, “Silver, if you knew it was the Goddess’s tactic, why fall for it?”
Song Wuli said, “You know what a nuclear weapon is? You may not use it, but you can’t be without it.”
Diamond responded, “I don’t understand.”
Song Wuli explained, “Diamond, if I were a normal human and a demon attacked, I’d have to run, right?”
Diamond : “Yes, a lone human can’t fight a demon.”
Song Wuli continued, “But if I can transform into a magical girl, I can choose to run or fight, right?”
Diamond insisted, “Magical girls can’t flee from battle.”
Clearly, Diamond loved moral grandstanding, but Song Wuli’s morals were low enough not to rush headlong into death just because of a few words.
If a demon was too strong, she’d definitely consider running.
Diamond suddenly recalled its earlier question, “Silver, you still haven’t explained why you agreed to the one-year deal knowing it was a stalling tactic.”
Song Wuli answered, “Because your Goddess got anxious, paying so much attention to nobody like me. I’m curious—how bad is the situation for magical girls and humans that they’d bother recruiting a loser like me?”
Half her reason was a sense of crisis—seeing that black-oozing tree, keeping the magical girl contract seemed wise.
As long as there were no downsides and no obligation to fight monsters, it was better to hold onto the power.
Diamond asked, “You don’t know? Didn’t the Goddess tell you?”
Song Wuli said, “What?”
Diamond revealed, “The World Tree is eroding; it won’t protect humans much longer.”
Too late to cover her ears—Diamond cut straight to the core, spilling the big secret.
Song Wuli sighed, “You’re saying the tree that birthed you is called the World Tree, right?”
Diamond confirmed, “Yes.”
Song Wuli continued, “The World Tree protects humans, prevents bad things, right?”
Diamond agreed, “Yes.”
Song Wuli added, “But for some reason, it’s being eroded, and once it hits a breaking point, the world loses its protection, right?”
Diamond said, “Yes, so the Goddess told you?”
Song Wuli clarified, “No, I guessed. I’ve surfed the net for decades—give me a story’s start, and I can predict its arc.”
Diamond pointed out, “Silver, this is the real world, not a novel or movie.”
Seeing a construction crane dozens of meters tall nearby, Song Wuli flew to it, brushed dust off the arm, and sat.
Sitting on the wand was hurting her butt.
The crane was comfier; for most, it’d be terrifying, but for Song Wuli, who could fly, even Everest was small potatoes.
Diamond sat beside her.
Song Wuli looked at ordinary people walking the streets, at others watching TV through apartment windows.
Something stirred in her heart.
Diamond might be right—it could probably tell if someone was kind.
Magical girls were always kind.
Song Wuli cursed herself, wishing she were a heartless beast; it’d be less troubling.
“Silver, should I keep going? You seem hesitant,” Diamond said, its big eyes on her.
“Go ahead, I’m listening—about magical girls, the World Tree, the black ooze,” Song Wuli said, tucking stray hair behind her ear.
Diamond began, “It’s a long story, starting billions of years ago…”
Song Wuli interrupted, “Keep it under 100 words.”
Diamond paused, rephrased, and continued, “This world is Alpha World; there’s at least one other, Beta World, where demons live—parallel worlds. The World Tree and Contract Island lie in the gap between Alpha and Beta. The World Tree prevents contact between them. That’s over 100 words.”
Song Wuli : “You get another 100 words. Go on.”
Diamond continued, “A century ago, something began eroding the World Tree, weakening its barrier. Beta World demons started sending matter to Alpha, first small objects, then creatures. Decades ago, demons could cross the gap to reach us.”
Song Wuli : “What’s eroding the World Tree? Can it be saved?”
Diamond replied, “I don’t know.”
Song Wuli pressed, “What’s the point of magical girls then? If it can’t be saved, why do we need them?”
Diamond answered, “Magical girls can drive out demons, saving Alpha World.”
Song Wuli asked, “How long can the World Tree hold? What happens if it fails completely?”
Diamond said calmly, “All humans will be slaughtered, and Earth will become the demons’ playground.”
Song Wuli rubbed her eyes, processing the intel.
“So, magical girls exist just to kill demons, as many as come, for decades, centuries, endlessly?”
Diamond :“Yes.”
Song Wuli : “No way to stop the demons for good?”
Diamond said, “As of my knowledge today, no.”
Song Wuli theorized, “So, theoretically, fixing the World Tree’s erosion would stop demons from crossing from Beta World?”
Diamond : “Yes.”
Song Wuli said, “And you can’t do that, right?”
Diamond : “Right.”
Song Wuli snapped, “You’re useless.”
Diamond retorted, “That’s harsh. Tomorrow, I want two portions of fried dumplings.”